After nearly five months of a foul smell and eyesore caused by leaking sewage, the Steve Tshwete Local Municipality has finally addressed the issue.

Residents in Eastdene raised concerns about the leaking sewage near the Eastdene Mosque.

Previously, the Middelburg Observer reported that the DA said it had launched complaints to the municipality about the matter.

On Tuesday, the DA said they were pleased that the municipality finally attended to the matter, “Since January this year, frustrated residents have lodged numerous complaints about the sewage spill to the Municipality’s Call Centre. However, these complaints were ignored and the municipality shifted blame onto the residents, stating that the sewage crisis exists because storm water was diverted into the sewer system,” Elsie Vermooten of the DA said.

She also said it was discovered that raw sewage was flowing directly into the Olifants and Klein Olifants Rivers because of blocked sewerage drains. “Understanding the threat that was posed to religious rights and the Olifants and Klein Olifants catchment areas, the DA immediately called on the municipality to clean the blocked sewer manholes in the area and even offered to provide civil engineers at no cost to the municipality.”

Vermooten said she recently visited the area and found that the matter had been attended to. “While we welcome this initiative from the municipality, we call on Municipal Manager Mandla Mnguni to ensure that work in Eastdene continues and that blocked stormwater drains and sewer manhole drains are cleaned regularly.”